Six players with starting experience in the defensive backfield return in 2007, including Josh Pinkard coming back after season ending knee surgery.

Pete Carroll will have plenty of options to choose from at safety and cornerback this fall, but the ranks will be thin in the spring with several players rehabbing injuries.

Sophomore Taylor Mays had a breakout freshman year. He stepped in as the starter at free safety after Pinkard's injury and he never looked back. As the year wore on Mays continued his development and made people forget he was fresh out of high school.

Mays had 62 tackles, three interceptions and three pass deflections in 2006.

Opposite Mays is junior strong safety Kevin Ellison. Ellison kept the secondary together after Pinkard went down, taking on more responsibility until Mays was up to speed.

Ellison ended the season 4th on the team in tackles with 64 including 6 for a loss, one interception, a forced fumble and one and a half sacks.